Multidirectional input device

Abstract

In a multidirectional input device, a surface of a bottom plate facing the bottom of an operating member is provided with a projection having a taper portion that gradually rises from the outer periphery toward the center, wherein the operating member is tilted with the tilting operation of a control shaft and contacts the projection to regulate the motion of the operating member. Therefore, the operating member does not slip, and a tactile feel is not produced in the tilting operation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a multidirectional input device, and more particularly, to a multidirectional input device in which a plurality of electric parts can be simultaneously operated by manipulating a control shaft.

2. Description of the Related Art

The present inventors disclose a multidirectional input device in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/332753 and 09/333276. In the disclosed conventional multidirectional input device (as shown in FIGS. 14 to 20), a first interlock member 32 having a slot 32a is turnably mounted in a cavity of a box-shaped frame 31. The first interlock member 32 is turned to change the resistance of a variable resistor 33 mounted on the frame 31.

A control shaft 34 has a shaft support portion 34b formed at the center and a pair of shaft portions 34a disposed in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the shaft support portion 34b. The control shaft 34 is passed through the slot 32a of the first interlock member 32 so as to be movable along the slot 32a.

The shaft portions 34a are turnably supported by a second interlock member 35, thereby allowing the control shaft 34 to be tilted in the A—A direction.

The second interlock member 35 is made of synthetic resin, and is placed below the first interlock member 32 and is orthogonal thereto.

The second interlock member 35 comprises a rectangular side wall 35b having a center opening 35a for passing the control shaft 34 therethrough, a pair of circular holes 35c formed in the opposing sides of the side wall 35b so as to be engaged with the shaft portions 34a of the control shaft 34, and part operating portions 35d and 35e protruding outward from the side wall 35b.

The shaft portions 34a of the control shaft 34 are snap-fitted in the circular holes 35c, and the control shaft 34 is thereby held by the second interlock member 35.

The second interlock member 35 is turnably supported by the frame 31 to allow the control shaft 34 to be tilted in the B—B direction. A variable resistor 36 mounted on the frame 31 is controlled by the part operating portion 35d, and a pushbutton switch 37 mounted on the frame 31 is operated by the part operating portion 35e.

At the shaft support portion 34b in the lower part of the control shaft 34 placed in the frame 31, an operating member 38 is disposed to move in the axial direction of the control shaft 34.

The operating member 38 is made of resin, and has a base portion 38a having a lower surface curved like a saucer. A cylindrical boss portion 38b projects upward from the center of the base portion 38a, and a shaft hole 38c penetrates through the center of the boss portion 38b.

The shaft support portion 34b of the control shaft 34 is fitted in the boss portion 38b of the operating member 38 so that the operating member 38 can move in the axial direction of the shaft support portion 34b.

An urging member 39 formed of a coil spring is interposed between the control shaft 34 and the operating member 38.

A bottom plate 40 is placed under the operating member 38 so as to close the bottom of the frame 31. The bottom of the operating member 38 is elastically contacted with the flat inner bottom face of the bottom plate 40 by the urging member 39.

The operation of the conventional multidirectional input device will now be described. When operating force is not applied to the control shaft 34 (i.e., when no load is imposed), the operating member 38 is elastically contacted with the inner bottom face of the bottom plate 40 by the elastic force of the urging member 39, the saucerlike bottom face of the base portion 38a is in the horizontal position, and the control shaft 34 is in the neutral upright position (as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17).

When the control shaft 34 is tilted along the slot 32a of the first interlock member 32 in the direction B—B (see FIGS. 15 and 17), the second interlock member 35 turns on the mounting positions on the frame 31, and the operating member 38 is brought into the states shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 and is tilted while the bottom face of the base portion 38a moves in sliding contact with the inner bottom face of the bottom plate 40. This causes the boss portion 38b of the operating member 38 is pushed into the control shaft 34 against the elastic force of the urging member 39.

In the neutral state shown in FIG. 17, clearances K1 and K2 serve as play on the right and left sides of the control shaft 34 between the control shaft 34 and the second interlock member 35 because of the connecting structure therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 18, when the control shaft 34 is initially tilted, the clearance K1 on the tilting side is lost, and the clearance K2 on the opposite side increases.

When the tilting operation is continued in this state, the operating member 31 is brought into a state shown in FIG. 19, and then, into a state shown in FIG. 20 in which it is tilted at a predetermined angle.

When the operating member 38 is tilted by a greater angle than a certain angle, the force in the surface direction of the bottom plate 40 by the spring force of the urging member 39 exceeds the friction force between the operating member 38 and the bottom plate 40 between the states shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. The operating member 38 consequently slides in the direction of the arrow D, and the clearance shifts from the clearance K2 to the clearance K1. This shift operation is transmitted as a tactile feel to the control shaft 34, which impairs operability.

When the second interlock member 35 is turned, the resistance of the variable resistor 36 is changed by the part operating portion 35d. When the operating force applied to the control shaft 34 is removed after the operation of the variable resistor 36 is completed, the operating member 38 automatically returns to the horizontal position because of the elastic force of the urging member 39, and the control shaft 34 also automatically returns to the neutral position.

When the control shaft 34 is tilted along the center opening 35a of the second interlock member 35 in the direction A—A in FIG. 16, the first interlock member 32 is turned to adjust the variable resistor 33.

Description will now be given of the operation of the pushbutton switch 37 serving as an electric part in addition to the variable resistors 33 and 36. First, the control shaft 34 is pressed down in the direction of the arrow C, as shown in FIG. 16.

Then, the second interlock member 35 is moved down because of pressure, and the part operating portion 35e presses a stem portion of the pushbutton switch 37 to turn the pushbutton switch 37 on and off.

When the control shaft 34 is released from pressing, it is returned to the initial state by the urging member 38.

The control shaft 34 may be pressed in the direction of the arrow C not only in the neutral position, but also when it is tilted to control the resistances of the variable resistors 33 and 36.

When the control shaft 34 is tilted in the conventional multidirectional input device, the bottom of the operating member 38 moves in sliding contact with the inner bottom face of the bottom plate 40. Therefore, when the operating member 38 is tilted at a greater angle than a certain angle, it slips in the direction of the arrow D, and this slip is transmitted as a tactile feel to the control shaft 34, which impairs operability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multidirectional input device with a superior operability in which tactile feel is not produced in a tilting operation of a control shaft.

According to a first arrangement for overcoming the above problems, there is provided a multidirectional input device including: a frame; first and second interlock members turnably mounted in the frame so as to intersect each other; a control shaft placed perpendicularly to the first and second interlock members and held by the second interlock member so as to be tilted to turn the first and second interlock members; a bottom plate placed so as to intersect the axial direction of the control shaft; an operating member held by the control shaft to move in the axial direction of the control shaft; an urging member for elastically pressing the bottom of the operating member against the bottom plate; and electric parts operated via the first and second interlock members by the tilting of the control shaft, wherein a surface of the bottom plate facing the bottom of the operating member is provided with a projection having a taper portion that gradually rises from the outer periphery toward the center, and the operating member tilted with the tilting operation of the control shaft contacts the projection to regulate the motion of the operating member.

According to a second preferred arrangement, the projection has at least the taper portion in the forming direction of the first interlock member.

According to a third preferred arrangement, the taper portion of the projection is conical.

According to a fourth preferred arrangement, the operating member has a recess on a surface facing the bottom plate, and the projection is placed in the recess.

According to a fifth preferred arrangement, the operating member has an arc-shaped face portion on the outer periphery facing the bottom plate, and the arc-shaped face portion is in contact with the taper portion of the projection.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a multidirectional input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a second interlock member for use in the multidirectional input device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the second interlock member.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views of the second interlock member.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a control shaft for use in the multidirectional input device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the control shaft.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the control shaft taken along line 7—7 in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the multidirectional input device taken along line 9—9 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device taken along line 10—10 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device taken along line 11—11 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the multidirectional input device of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the multidirectional input device.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a principal part of the conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16—16 in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the conventional multidirectional input device.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the conventional multidirectional input device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A multidirectional input device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a multidirectional input device according to the present invention, FIGS. 2, 3, 4A and 4B are explanatory views of a second interlock member in the multidirectional input device, FIGS. 5 to 7 are explanatory views of a control shaft in the multidirectional input device, FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device, FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the multidirectional input device taken along line 9—9 in FIG. 8, FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device taken along line 10—10 in FIG. 8, FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the principal part of the multidirectional input device taken along line 11—11 in FIG. 8, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are explanatory views showing the operation of the multidirectional input device.

Referring to FIG. 1, the multidirectional input device of the present invention is provided with a frame 1 made of an iron plate or the like. The frame 1 includes side plates 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d bent downward by pressing or by other methods, is open at the bottom with a cavity therein, and is outwardly shaped nearly like a rectangular parallelepiped. The top of the frame 1 is covered with an upper plate 1e having an operating hole 1f at the center.

Side plates 1a, 1c, and 1d (excluding the side plate 1b) each have circular holes 1g, and the side plates 1a and 1c also have a plurality of square holes (not shown) for mounting variable resistors 3 serving as rotary electric parts (which will be described below). The side plate 1b (opposed to the side plate 1a) has a substantially semicircular support portion 1h at a position opposed to the circular hole 1g of the side plate 1a. Part presser bars 1j are formed on the right and left sides of the support portion 1h so as to be substantially perpendicularly bent outward from the side plate 1b.

The opposing side plates 1c and 1d have, at the bottoms, a plurality of mounting terminals 1k extending downward by which the multidirectional input device is mounted on a printed board or the like (not shown).

The side plates 1a and 1b have, at the bottoms, tongues 1m used to mount a bottom plate 8 (which will be described below).

A first interlock member 2 made of a phosphor-bronze plate or the like is placed inside the cavity of the frame 1. The first interlock member 2 is curved upward in an arched form by pressing or by other methods, and the arched portion is provided with a slot 2a formed by stamping so as to extend in the longitudinal direction.

Both ends of the first interlock member 2 are bent downward. At one of the bent ends (on the left side in the figure), a pipelike support portion 2b is formed by drawing or by other methods, and is fitted in the circular hole 1g of the side plate 1d so as to be turnably supported thereat.

The other right end of the first interlock member 2 is bent nearly in a U-shape to form a part operating portion 2c. The part operating portion 2c is protruded outward through a circular hole (not shown) formed in the side plate 1c of the frame 1, and is engaged with a horizontal groove of a sliding-element supporting member 3d of a variable resistor 3 (which will be described below).

The first interlock member 2 is laid between the circular holes 1g of the side plates 1c and 1d of the frame 1 so that the arched portion is turnably placed inside the frame 1.

Electric parts (for example, variable resistors 3) are mounted, by snap-fitting or by other methods, at the plural square holes (not shown) formed in the side plate 1a and the adjoining side plate 1c of the frame 1.

In the variable resistor 3 serving as a rotary electric part, as shown in FIG. 8, a substrate 3b is formed integrally with a casing 3a by insert molding or by other methods and is placed inside the casing 3a. A sliding-element supporting member 3d with a sliding element 3c is turnably mounted on the substrate 3b by snap-fitting or by other methods. An operating portion 3e having an engagement groove, constituted by a combination of a vertical groove and a horizontal groove, is formed at the turning center of the sliding-element supporting member 3d.

The substantially U-shaped part operating portion 2c of the first interlock member 2 protruding outward from the circular hole (not shown) of the side plate 1c of the frame 1 is engaged with the operating portion 3e of the variable resistor 3 mounted on the side plate 1c. When the first interlock member 2 turns, the sliding-element supporting member 3d of the variable resistor 3 also turns, thereby changing the resistance of the variable resistor 3.

A grip portion 4a of a control shaft 4 is passed through the slot 2a of the first interlock member 2, and the grip portion 4a and a root portion 4b are movable along the slot 2a. The control shaft 4 is made of synthetic resin or the like, and the grip portion 4a and the root portion 4b are oval and circular, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. Under the circular root portion 4b, a cylindrical portion 4c is formed integrally therewith.

The cylindrical portion 4c is open at the bottom, is surrounded by an outer wall, and has therein a holding portion 4d for holding an urging member 7 formed of a substantially circular return spring (which will be described below). Flat portions 4e are formed opposed to each other on the outer wall of the cylindrical portion 4c, as shown in FIG. 5. Oval shaft portions 4f having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined height project from the flat portions 4e in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the control shaft 4.

On the lower surface of each of the shaft portions 4f, a slope portion 4j is formed to be gradually inclined upward from the leading end of the shaft portion 4f toward the center of the control shaft 4, as shown in FIG. 7.

A concave grease storing portion 4k is formed on the arc-shaped upper surface of the shaft portion 4f.

Inside the holding portion 4d, a shaft support portion 4g is formed integrally with and coaxially with the grip portion 4a so as to extend downward in the figure. A bottom end 4h of the shaft support portion 4g protrudes downward from the cylindrical portion 4c.

A plurality of ribs 4m extending in the axial direction are formed on the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 4c so as to project into the holding portion 4d, particularly, as shown in FIG. 11.

On the outer wall of the cylindrical portion 4c, projections 4n constituting stoppers are formed on the lower sides of the shaft portions 4f.

The shaft portions 4f are turnably supported by a second interlock member 5, which allows the control shaft 4 to tilt in the directions of the arrow A.

The second interlock member 5 is made of synthetic resin, and is placed below the first interlock member 2 so as to extend in the direction orthogonal to the first interlock member 2.

The second interlock member 5 has a support section 5a, which is substantially rectangular in outer shape and has a center opening 5c at about the center for passing the control shaft 4 therethrough, particularly, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. The support section 5a comprises side walls 5b that are long crosswise and lengthwise, and substantially surrounds the rectangular center opening 5c.

Circular holes 5d are formed through or as concavities of a predetermined depth, at fixed positions of the side walls 5b of the support section 5a that are long crosswise, with which the shaft portions 4f of the control shaft 4 are engaged. The lower inner faces of the circular holes 5d are tapered along the slope portions 4j of the shaft portions 4f.

On the inner sides of the side walls 5b, stopper portions 5e are formed of recesses for receiving the projections 4n and are disposed below and close to and the circular holes 5d, particularly, as shown in FIG. 10.

The shaft portions 4f of the control shaft 4 are snapped into the circular holes 5d. Thereby, the control shaft 4 is held by the second interlock member 5, and the projections 4n abut on the stopper portions 5e to constitute stoppers.

After this assembly, the inner sides of the side walls 5b are in contact with the flat portions 4e on the periphery of the control shaft 4, and the upper and lower portions of the oval shaft portions 4f are in contact with the inner faces of the circular holes 5d.

First and second arm portions 5f and 5g horizontally extend from the support section 5a to the right and left sides, as shown in FIG. 3. The first arm portion 5f extending to one side is provided with a support portion 5h having a given diameter, and a platelike part operating portion 5j having a given width projects from the support portion 5h.

The second arm portion 5g extending to the other side is provided with a support portion 5k having a given diameter, and a part operating portion 5m extends from the support portion 5k so as to be flat at the top and to be semicircular at the bottom.

In the second interlock member 5, the support portion 5h of the first arm portion 5f is fitted in the circular hole 1g formed in the side plate 1a of the frame 1 and is turnably supported thereat, and the support portion 5k of the second arm portion 5g is supported at the semicircular support portion 1h of the side plate 1b. The second interlock member 5 is thereby turnably placed inside the frame 1 to allow the control shaft 4 to be tilted in the direction of the arrow B and so that the part operating portion 5m at one end is movable vertically.

The part operating portion 5j of the first arm portion 5f is engaged with the vertical groove of the operating portion 3e of the variable resistor 3 mounted on the side plate 1a, and the part operating portion 5m of the second arm portion 5g is placed on an electric part mounted on the bottom plate 8, for example, a stem portion 9a of a pushbutton switch 9 (which will be described below).

At the bottom end 4h of the control shaft 4, an operating member 6 is placed to move in the axial direction of the control shaft 4.

The operating member 6 is made of resin, and has, in the lower part, a base portion 6a that is circular in outer shape and has a lower surface curved like a saucer. A cylindrical boss portion 6b projects upward from the center of the base portion 6a, and a shaft hole 6c is formed through the center of the boss portion 6b.

The boss portion 6b of the operating member 6 is provided with a plurality of grooves 6d so as to be spline-connected to the ribs 4m of the control shaft 4. The base portion 6a has a recess 6e at the center of the lower surface, and an arc-shaped face portion 6f on the periphery of the lower surface.

The shaft support portion 4g of the control shaft 4 is passed through the shaft hole 6c of the operating member 6, and the boss portion 6b is movably fitted in the holding portion 4d of the cylindrical portion 4c.

In this case, the ribs 4m of the control shaft 4 are spline-connected to the grooves 6d of the operating member 6, whereby the operating member 6 is allowed to turn with the control shaft 4.

The urging member 7 formed of a coil spring having a predetermined elastic force is placed inside the holding portion 4d in the cylindrical portion 4c of the control shaft 4 so that the upper and lower coil ends of the urging member 7 are in elastic contact with the ceiling face of the holding portion 4d and the upper surface of the boss portion 6c of the operating member 6. The urging member 7 is fitted on the shaft support portion 4g. One end of the urging member 7 on the side of the grip portion 4a is guided by the inner wall of the cylindrical portion 4c, and the other end is guided by the outer wall of the boss portion 6b, thereby regulating the frontward, rearward, rightward, and leftward movements of the urging member 7.

Below the operating member 6, the bottom plate 8 is placed to close the bottom of the frame 1. The bottom plate 8 is made of resin, is substantially rectangular in outer shape, and is partially provided with side walls 8a on the periphery. A flat inner bottom face 8b is formed inside the side walls 8a.

A conical projection 8e shaped like a saucer is formed on the inner bottom face 8b, and has a taper portion that gradually rises from the periphery toward the center.

The bottom of the operating member 6 is elastically contacted with the inner bottom face 8b by the urging member 7. A part mounting portion 8c projects from the side wall 8a on one side of the bottom plate 8 so as to mount thereon an electric part, for example, the pushbutton switch 9. A plurality of guide portions 8d project from the side walls 8a adjoining the side wall 8a with the part mounting portion 8c so as to position the bottom ends of the side plates 1c and 1d of the frame 1.

The pushbutton switch 9 to be mounted on the part mounting portion 8c comprises the stem portion 9a for opening and closing an inner switch circuit (not shown), a casing 9b for hermetically sealing the switch circuit, and a plurality of mounting terminals 9c extending downward from the side faces of the casing 9b. In such a pushbutton switch 9, the mounting terminals 9c can be temporarily fixed to the part mounting portion 8c of the bottom plate 8 by snap-fitting or by other means.

In order to assemble the above-described multidirectional input device of the present invention, first, the arched first interlock member 2 is inserted into the frame 1 from the open bottom side, the part operating portion 2c is inserted in the circular hole (not shown) of the side wall 1c, and the support portion 2b is inserted in the circular hole 1g of the side wall 1d, whereby the first interlock member 2 is placed inside the frame 1.

Next, the cylindrical portion 4c of the control shaft 4 is placed in the center opening 5c of the second interlock member 5, and the oval shaft portions 4f are placed on the side walls 5b.

When the control shaft 4 is pressed into the center opening 5c by a jig (not shown), the side walls 5b are elastically deformed and are stretched outward, and the shaft portions 4f are snap-fitted in the circular holes 5d formed in the side walls 5b. The control shaft 4 is thereby turnably supported by the second interlock member 5.

Next, grease is injected into grease storing portions 10 (see FIG. 10), formed by spaces formed between linear portions on both sides of the oval shaft portions 4f and the circular holes 5d, in order to prevent problems, such as jarring, in a sliding portion between the control shaft 4 and the second interlock member 5. Moreover, grease also spreads and is stored in the grease storing portions 4k of the control shaft 4, thereby preventing problems such as jarring.

Subsequently, the grip portion 4a of the control shaft 4 turnably supported by the second interlock member 5 is passed through the slot 2a of the first interlock member 2, and is protruded outward from the operating hole 1f of the frame 1 so that the circular root portion 4b is placed at the slot 2a.

The support portion 5h of the first arm portion 5f of the second interlock member 5 is inserted in the circular hole 1g of the side plate 1a of the frame 1, the part operating portion 5j at the leading end is protruded outward from the side plate 1a, and the support portion 5k of the second arm portion 5g is placed at the support portion 1h of the side plate 1b of the frame 1.

The frame 1, in which the first and second interlock members 2 and 5 are laid, is inverted so that the open bottom side points upward. The urging member 7 is inserted and held in the holding portion 4d of the cylindrical portion 4c of the inverted control shaft 4.

When the shaft hole 6c of the operating member 6 is fitted on the shaft support portion 4g of the control shaft 4, the boss portion 6b of the operating member 6 is spline-connected to the interior of the cylindrical portion 4c of the control shaft 4, is movably fitted therein, and is elastically contacted with the urging member 7.

The bottom plate 8, in which the pushbutton switch 9 is temporarily mounted on the part mounting portion 8c, is inverted and placed on the inverted frame 1. Then, the bottom plate 8 is positioned on the frame 1 with the end of the side plate 1c guided by the guide portions 8d, and the part presser bars 1j of the side plate 1b are placed on the upper surface of the casing 9 of the pushbutton switch 9, whereby the pushbutton switch 9 is fixed on the bottom plate 8.

By caulking the plural tongues 1m formed in the side plates 1a and 1b of the frame 1, the bottom plate 8 is fixedly combined with the frame 1, the bottom of the operating member 6 is elastically contacted with the inner bottom face 8b of the bottom plate 8, and the control shaft 4 is placed into the neutral upright position, as show in FIGS. 8, 9, and 12.

The operating portion 3e of the variable resistor 3 is engaged with the part operating portion 5j of the second interlock member 5 that protrudes outward from the circular hole 1g of the side plate 1a, and the variable resistor 3 is snap-fitted in the plural square holes (not shown) formed in the side plate 1a, whereby the variable resistor 3 is retained by the side plate 1a.

Furthermore, the operating portion 3e of the variable resistor 3 is similarly engaged with the part operating portion 2c of the first interlock member 2 protruding outward from the side plate 1c, and the variable resistor 3 is retained by the side plate 1c. Assembling of the multidirectional input device of the present invention is then completed.

While the electric parts formed of the variable resistors 3 are mounted on the frame 1 after the first and second interlock members 2 and 5 are mounted in the frame 1 in the above-described assembly operation, the variable resistors 3 may be mounted on the discrete frame 1 before the first and second interlock members 2 and 5 are mounted therein.

Description will now be given of the operation of the multidirectional input device of the present invention. When an operating force is not applied to the grip portion 4a of the control shaft 4 (i.e., when no load is imposed), the operating member 6 is elastically contacted with the inner bottom face 8b of the bottom plate 8 by elastic force of the urging member 7, the saucerlike bottom face of the base portion 6a is in the horizontal position, and the control shaft 4 is in the neutral upright position, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12. In this neutral state, the projection 8e of the bottom plate 8 is placed inside the recess 6e of the operating member 6.

When the control shaft 4 in this neutral position is tilted along the slit 2a of the first interlock member 2 in the direction B—B in FIGS. 8 and 12, the second interlock member 5 is turned on the support portions 5h and 5k of the first and second arm portions 5f and 5g, the bottom face of the base portion 6a in the operating member 6 moves in sliding contact with the inner bottom face 8b of the bottom plate 8, as shown in FIG. 13, and the operating member 6 tilts while the arc-shaped face portion 6f on the lower periphery of the base portion 6a contacts the taper portion of the projection 8e of the bottom plate 8.

The boss portion 6b of the operating member 6 is pressed into the holding portion 4d of the cylindrical portion 4c of the control shaft 4 against the elastic force of the urging member 7.

In this case, in the neutral state shown in FIG. 12, clearances K1 and K2 (serving as play) are formed on the right and left sides of the control shaft 4 between the control shaft 4 and the second interlock member 5 because of the connection structure therebetween.

When the control shaft 4 is initially tilted, the clearance K1 on the tilting side is lost, and the clearance K2 on the opposite side increases.

When the tilting operation is continued, the arc-shaped face portion 6f of the operating member 6 slides while running on the taper portion of the projection 8e, which regulates the movement of the operating member 6. For this reason, even when the operating member 6 is tilted by a given angle, the arc-shaped face portion 6f does not slip on the bottom plate 8 in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. 13. This allows the tilting operation to be performed while the state of the clearance K2 is maintained.

When the second interlock member 5 is turned, the sliding-element supporting member 3d of the variable resistor 3 engaged with the part operating portion 5j of the first arm portion 5f is turned to change the resistance.

When the control shaft 4 is tilted in the direction of the arrow B, it contacts the end of the slit 2a of the first interlock member 2, and stops the tilting operation.

When the operating force applied to the control shaft 4 is removed, the operating member 6 automatically returns to the horizontal state because of the elastic force of the urging member 7, and the control shaft 4 automatically returns to the neutral upright position.

In contrast, when the control shaft 4 is tilted along the center opening 5c of the second interlock member 5 in the direction A—A in FIG. 9, the first interlock member 2 turns on the support portion 2b and the part operating portion 2c.

When the first interlock member 2 turns, the sliding-element supporting member 3d of the variable resistor 3 mounted on the side plate 1c and engaged with the part operating portion 2c is turned, thereby changing the resistance of the variable resistor 3. The operation of the operating member 6 in this case is the same as the above-described operation when the control shaft 4 is tilted in the direction B—B, and therefore the description thereof has been omitted.

When the control shaft 4 is tilted in the direction of the arrow A, the projections 4n move in the recesses and abut on the stopper portions 5e, which thereby constitute stoppers.

The control shaft 4 can be tilted throughout a range of 360°. The control shaft 4 in the tilted state can also be turned in the direction of the arrow E in FIG. 1. In this case, the operating member 6 spline-connected to the control shaft 4 turns together, and the bottom of the base portion 6a of the operating member 6 turns in a rolling manner without slipping on the bottom plate 8 even when there is friction therebetween due to elastic pressing by the urging member 7.

Description will now be given of the operation of the pushbutton switch 9 serving as an electric part in addition to the variable resistors 3. First, the control shaft 4 is pressed down in the direction of the arrow C (see FIG. 8). Pressing force is thereby applied to the circular holes 5d of the second interlock member 5, and the second arm portion 5g turns downward on the support portion 5h of the first arm portion 5f.

Then, the part operating portion 5m of the second arm portion 5g protruding outward from the support portion 1h of the side plate 1b moves vertically, and presses the stem portion 9a of the pushbutton switch 9 to turn the pushbutton switch 9 on and off.

The control shaft 4 may be pressed in the direction of the arrow C not only in the neutral position, but also when it is tilted to control the resistance of the variable resistor 3.

While the shaft portions 4f of the control shaft 4 are formed of oval projections and the second interlock member 5 has the circular holes 5d in the above description of the embodiment, the shaft portions 4 may be recessed and the circular holes 5d may be replaced with projections.

While both the control shaft 4 and the second interlock member 5 are made of an elastically deformable resin material or the like, one of the control shaft 4 and the second interlock member 5 may be made of metal by die-casting.

While the variable resistors 3 and the pushbutton switch 9 are adopted as the plural electric parts, they may be replaced with rotary electric parts, such as an encoder, or electric parts to be operated by pushing.

While the cylindrical portion 4c of the control shaft 4 is open at the bottom and is surrounded by the outer wall, a part of the outer wall excluding the portions having the shaft portions 4f may be open. In this case, the shaft portions 4f are more likely to be elastically deformed, which improves workability in snap-fitting.

While the projection 8e of the bottom plate 8 is conical, it may have at least a tapered portion in the direction in which the control shaft 4 is turnably supported by the second interlock member 5, that is, in the first interlock member forming direction. This prevents the tactile feel in tilting the control shaft 4 due to the clearances K1 and K2 existing in the turnable support direction.

The inner wall of the shaft hole 6c of the operating member 6 and the outer wall of the shaft support portion 4g of the control shaft 4 may be spline-connected.

The grease storing portions 4k and the like may be provided in a sliding portion between the control shaft 4 and the first or second interlock member 2 or 5 in order to prevent jarring or the like.

The stopper portions 5e formed of recesses for receiving the projections 4n of the control shaft 4 may be provided at appropriate positions in the second interlock member 5.

According to the multidirectional input device of the present invention, the surface of the bottom plate 8 facing the bottom of the operating member 6 is provided with the projection 8e having a taper portion that gradually rises from the outer periphery toward the center, and the operating member 6 tilted with the tilting operation of the control shaft 4 contacts the projection 8e to regulate the motion of the operating member 6. Therefore, the operating member 6 does not slip, which differs from the conventional art, and this makes it possible to provide a multidirectional input device with a good operability in which a tactile feel is not produced in the tilting operation.

The control shaft 4 is turnably supported by the first or second interlock member 2 or 5 in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and the projection 8e has at least a taper portion in the support direction. Therefore, the operating member 6 can be prevented from slipping due to the clearances K1 and K2 between the control shaft 4 and the first or second interlock member 2 or 5. This makes it possible to provide a multidirectional input device with a good operability.

Since the taper portion of the projection 8e is conical, the operating member 6 is prevented from slipping in the operation of tilting the control shaft 4 throughout a range of 360°, which provides a multidirectional input device with a good operability.

The operating member 6 has a recess 6e on the surface facing the bottom plate 8, and the projection 8e is placed in the recess 6e. This makes it possible to provide a compact multidirectional input device that shows a high space factor.

The operating member 6 has an arc-shaped face portion 6f on the outer periphery facing the bottom plate 8, and the arc-shaped face portion 6f is in contact with the taper portion of the projection 8e. This makes it possible to provide a multidirectional input device in which the operating member 6 smoothly moves and smoothly runs onto the taper portion, and the manipulation feeling is preferable.

While the present invention has been described with reference to what are presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. A multidirectional input device comprising:

a frame;

first and second interlock members turnably mounted in said frame so as to intersect each other;

a control shaft having an axial direction positioned perpendicularly to said first and second interlock members when said control shaft is in a neutral position, said control shaft being held by said second interlock member in a manner that permits said first and second interlock members to be turned by a tilting operation of the control shaft;

a bottom plate placed so as to intersect the axial direction of said control shaft;

an operating member held by said control shaft and movable in the axial direction of said control shaft;

an urging member for elastically pressing a bottom surface of said operating member against an upper surface of said bottom plate; and

electric parts operated via said first and second interlock members by the tilting operation of said control shaft,

wherein the upper surface of said bottom plate facing the bottom of said operating member is provided with an upwardly facing projection having a tapered portion that gradually rises from the outer periphery of the projection toward the center of the projection, said center of the projection generally intersecting the axial direction of said control shaft when said control shaft is in the neutral position, and wherein the tilting operation of said control shaft causes the bottom surface of the operating member to slidably engage the tapered portion of said projection so as to regulate the motion of said operating member.

2. A multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the tapered portion of said projection is disposed in a direction that is parallel with said first interlock member.

3. A multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein said tapered portion of said projection is conical in shape.

4. A multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of said operating member comprises a recess facing the upper surface of said bottom plate, and said projection is disposed within said recess when said control shaft is in the neutral position.

5. A multidirectional input device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of said operating member comprises an arc-shaped face portion on an outer periphery facing the upper surface of said bottom plate, and said arc-shaped face portion is in contact with said tapered portion of said projection during the tilting operation of said control shaft.